Dual Engine Race Car - Pit Board

Right On The HelmetDear Circle Track,Regarding John Gibson's "From the Driver's Seat" (Feb. '09), I really think you hit this right on the helmet. I just started racing at the age of 43, after being a fan forever. When my family was young, our entertainment was Saturday night at the races. At my local track Charter Raceway Park in Beaver Dam, WI, adults are only $10 and children, 11 and under, are free. Tell me where else you can go and get 4-plus hours of entertainment for you and your children for $10? And after the races, the kids pour into the pits, meet their favorite drivers, get hot shots, sit in the cars, and get autographs. My children still remember those nights and we still have pictures of them around the house sitting in various cars from over the years. Now I get to be that driver who kids want to meet and get that autograph (imagine that) or sit in my car. Great memories and entertainment at minimal cost, that's what short tracks are all about.Gordon D. SchultzStreet Stock No. 28

Gordon,Great memories and entertainment at minimal cost--what more could you ask for?

Shear & Brake In One?Hello,Just a quick comment concerning John Gibson's article "Five Shop Upgrades" (Jan. '09). He indicates that a sheetmetal shear and brake are the same item. In almost all cases they are two different pieces of equipment. The few items that will do both operations are not suitable for the race shop. I don't want someone buying a sheetmetal brake on eBay thinking he is also purchasing a shear.Thank you,Wayne WillemsenWalnut Creek, CA

Wayne,You are correct that most brakes and shears are two separate pieces of equipment, however, the machine that John references in the photo caption on page 78 that reads, "A sheetmetal brake will not only allow you to cut the metal but it will also allow you to bend and shape it" is actually Dayton's combination shear, brake, and roll machine. It can cut, bend, and roll up to 20 gauge mild steel in widths up to 39 inches . The Model number is 2XTZ9 and retails for around $1,000 from Grainger. John swears by it.

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Two MotorsDear Rob,Like so many other people who got into racing in the late 50s and early 60s, my dad and I started with the '32 Ford coupe and gradually moved into the Modified class in the St. Louis, MO, area. We ran the car for about a year then decided to build a Super Modified. We put a flathead Ford in it but it didn't have the power to keep up with the Chevy V-8s, so we got a 283ci Chevy with three Stromberg carbs and a Vertex Magneto. We didn't have a big budget so I reasoned that since we didn't have the money for stroker kits to make big cubic inch engines, two engines would work as well. The wing is salvaged from a wrecked plane at the local airport.Bill SchaeferHenderson, NV

Bill,That's awesome! What ingenuity! Bill's letter was actually edited down for space. To read his entire letter to the editor and for more of Bill's pictures head on over to www.circletrack.com and look under the Featured Story.

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Tri-City PleaDear Circle Track,I've been getting different racing magazines over the years and waiting to see my home track in there, but never have. So, I was going to talk to you guys. I am talking about Tri City Raceway in West Richland, WA. I believe it opened in 1968 and closed in 2004. It was the fastest half mile tri oval in the west. I've been going to TCR from 1997 until it closed. Now, it's going to be a winery.Thanks,Mitch SlagleWest Richland, WA

Mitch,We hate to hear about any track closing but especially ones that have been around for decades. That's one wicked configuration! Hey you Tri City racers, send us some of your pics and we'll put them up on www.circletrack.com.